RICHFIELD, Minn. — A Holy Angels hockey player injured in a scrimmage Nov. 18 continues to defy expectations, leaving the hospital days before his expected discharge date due to his hard work and determination.
His caregivers predicted earlier in the week that Mason Garcia would be discharged on Friday, Dec. 1 after crashing into the boards during a preseason scrimmage and suffering a traumatic brain injury. At first, Mason couldn't move his arms or legs but that proved to be temporary, and his family says the senior forward attacked his rehab with a vengeance.
He made so much progress that Garcia was released from Regions Hospital three days earlier than scheduled.
"Mason was committed to getting out of the hospital as soon as he could so in addition to his required OT/ PT in the gym with his therapists, he put in countless hours walking the halls, riding the stationary bike on his unit and doing the recommended stretches and exercises in his room, which definitely contributed to his earlier release," his family posted on Garcia's CaringBridge site. "His medical team was very impressed with the progress he made in such a short period of time."
That said, the Garcias emphasized that Mason's recovery will be "a marathon, not a sprint" and he will now begin an outpatient occupational and physical therapy program through Tria that specifically works with people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
"He is brilliant, smart, driven and kind and regardless of whether or not he gets to play hockey again, he is going to do amazing things," Tuesday's post reads. "We are so lucky to have a front-row seat to it all."
The Holy Angels hockey community has established a GoFundMe site to help the Garcias cover medical bills including the cost of his hospitalization and ongoing therapies. Click here if you would like to contribute.
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